THE Isle of Wight has been reacting to news the Island will move into Tier Four coronavirus restrictions tomorrow, following an announcement by the Government today (Wednesday ).

From 12.01am on December 31, the Island will move into Tier Four following a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases since Christmas Eve.

Read more: Covid: Isle of Wight enters Tier Four

Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely has made a statement regarding the move to Tier Four and news of the new Oxford vaccine:

Isle of Wight County Press: Isle of Wight MP Bob SeelyIsle of Wight MP Bob Seely (Image: Newsquest)

He said: "Clearly, moving to Tier Four is disappointing, but due to the new and more infectious strain of Covid, there is little alternative, especially with pressures on St Mary’s increasing.

"The likelihood is the Island will be under heavy restrictions until at least the end of
February. The good news is that the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine has today been approved.

"From next Monday, it will begin to be rolled out. Combined with the other vaccine, that
will mean that millions of people across the UK, and thousands of Islanders, will be vaccinated every month." 

"Come the Spring, we should start the return to a more normal living.”

DJ and festival organiser, Rob da Bank, has said farewell to Tier Three:

Isle of Wight County Press:

Isle of Wight Green Party candidate, Vix Lowthian, has focused on the burden the virus is causing to the NHS:

Isle of Wight Council leader, Dave Stewart, said: "Sadly, our case numbers have risen rapidly just prior to the Christmas period; far faster than at any other point throughout the pandemic.

“All of the good work we have been doing to protect our Island community from this virus seems to have been undone in a very short space of time, which goes to show how dangerous this virus is.

Isle of Wight County Press: IW Council Leader Dave StewartIW Council Leader Dave Stewart

"We cannot let our guard down for a moment — the highest level of restrictions is now upon us with Tier Four – a mere week or so since we were in Tier One, the lowest level.

“Please, keep the Island safe – keep your friends, family and loved ones safe – stay at home."

Kirk Millis-Ward, director of communications and development at the IW NHS, is urging people to stay at home:

Simon Bryant, the Island's director of public health, said: "We must bring the number of cases on the Island under control. We must be very cautious with what we do. You must stay at home.

"Please, for the safety of the Island, do not flout the rules or bend them to suit what you want to do.

"I know this is a lot to ask and it is hard for people who want to see friends and family on New Year's Eve, but please don't meet up in person.

Isle of Wight County Press: Simon Bryant, the Island's director of public healthSimon Bryant, the Island's director of public health

"We have the power to slow the spread of the virus through our own behaviours – it’s people and close contact that spread Covid-19 and why we’ve seen our cases rise – please make the right choice and stay at home.

“Remember, around one in three people with Covid-19 have no symptoms so could be spreading the virus without realising."

Scotty on Twitter feels that more drastic travel restrictions should have been put in place:

Isle of Wight County Press:

Another Isle of Wight resident, who wished to remain anonymous, believes a temporarily extended closure of schools would help to get some control over the virus.

They said: "Do people seriously think it's mainlanders? It's flu season and children can still go to school and not social distance.

"Either lock us all down or this is going to be life until the vaccine is available to everyone.

"I don't want families to lose more loved ones to suicide or anything else. A few weeks of complete lockdown with schools closing would make so much more sense than just locking people away from friends and family."

Cllr Andrew Garratt believes the move is shocking but neccesary:

Support is available to those who need it through the IW Council's Covid helpline on 823600.